Imperial Oil asks review board to scrap order for environmental assessment in Norman Wells, N.W.T.

Imperial Oil is asking the Mackenzie Valley Review Board to overturn a ruling that triggers an environmental assessment of the company's entire operation in Norman Wells, N.W.T. 

In a letter to the board on Oct. 9 and first reported by Cabin Radio, the company argues the environmental assessment subjects the Norman Wells facility to "significant immediate-term uncertainty and risk." 

That's because, it said, the assessment has the "potential" to delay regulatory decisions coming from the Sahtu Land and Water Board (SLWB) and the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) that it needs to keep operating in 2025 – thereby risking a "shut-in" of the facility, meaning a halt in production, in less than three months. 

The Mackenzie Valley Review Board has, over the past few weeks, issued notices for two different environmental assessments related to Imperial Oil's operation in Norman Wells.

The Sahtu Secretariart Incorporated ordered one, on Sept. 24, related to the company's plan to replace a damaged pipeline. SSI also sent letters to both the CER and the SLWB on Sept. 30 referring authorizations that govern Imperial Oil's entire operation in Norman Wells to environmental assessment as well.

The Mackenzie Valley Review Board confirmed on Oct. 4 that it would handle those as a single environmental assessment for the entire operation. It is that decision which Imperial Oil wants overturned.

Among its arguments, Imperial Oil says that environmental assessments are meant for new operations and points out that it has been operating in Norman Wells for more than a century. It also said it wasn't given the opportunity to be heard before the assessment began. 

The company says that a shut-in during the winter raises the risk to workers and the environment and creates logistical challenges.